Muffie 0 #26 November 24, 2013 wolfriverjoe Can you easily slide your trip a day or two in either direction to accommodate the weather? If you can do that, and pay attention to what's happening, you should be fine. Thanks for all the additional replies! Yep. I have some flexibility so could take longer if I run into bad weather. And currently thinking I'll do it in five hours stretches per day because of the pup. She's good in the car, but the most we've done is a couple hours. So, worst case scenario I'll just have some longer driving days towards the end to make up lost time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LuckyMcSwervy 0 #27 November 24, 2013 Muffie *** Can you easily slide your trip a day or two in either direction to accommodate the weather? If you can do that, and pay attention to what's happening, you should be fine. Thanks for all the additional replies! Yep. I have some flexibility so could take longer if I run into bad weather. And currently thinking I'll do it in five hours stretches per day because of the pup. She's good in the car, but the most we've done is a couple hours. So, worst case scenario I'll just have some longer driving days towards the end to make up lost time. Safe travels. Always be kinder than you feel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,340 #28 November 24, 2013 Muffie*** Can you easily slide your trip a day or two in either direction to accommodate the weather? If you can do that, and pay attention to what's happening, you should be fine. Thanks for all the additional replies! Yep. I have some flexibility so could take longer if I run into bad weather. And currently thinking I'll do it in five hours stretches per day because of the pup. She's good in the car, but the most we've done is a couple hours. So, worst case scenario I'll just have some longer driving days towards the end to make up lost time. Well, when I said "slide it a day or two" I was meaning leave early if weather was coming in the next few days or leaving later to wait for it to pass. And five hours in a car is a pretty good goal if you aren't used to it. My dog loved to ride in the car, but we only did one "All Day" road trip. He did fine, but for the next few days was very hesitant to get into the car. Perhaps you could find dog parks on the way (there's lots of them out there). Drive a ways, stop and tire your dog out at a park, drive a ways, stop again and tire the dog out again, drive some more. Also, make sure you have your contact info on the dog. They make little containers, usually for pills, that you could hang on the collar. Put your name, phone number, maybe some alternate contact info on a piece of paper inside it. Dogs do strange things when they are in strange surroundings. Losing her somewhere far from home (either old or new one) would be a nightmare scenario."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swisschris62 0 #29 November 24, 2013 What wolver said... Most of the storms in winter run west to east. I've run all the way across many times with a storm right at my front or back door and never seen it. If you can time it between storms your golden. Keep in mind that if there is a storm behind you 5 hour days isn't going to keep you out of it unless it's moving REAL slow. In that case you'd be better off chasing it as opposed to it chasing you. With a little common sense you'll be fine. My 3 days holed up in a truck stop because of closed highways is an extreme storm which you won't encounter unless you really plan poorly. I live out here on the highway the majority of my time...sometimes getting stuck in these monster storms can't be avoided in my situation. One suggestion, snow ...not so bad, just be a little more cautious. Ice whole different story...find yourself a nice warm room somewhere...it's not to fool with. In snow storms it's mostly the dummies that end up in ditches ( that and those invincible 4 wheel drive suv's)...ice on the other hand can put the most careful driver into the ditch. If you do get caught, take pics! Storms can be beautiful! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swisschris62 0 #30 November 24, 2013 Snowy view from the office... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,381 #31 November 24, 2013 swisschris62Snowy view from the office... Hell, the road is dry, so that looks great! Where is it?"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seedy 0 #32 November 24, 2013 "My route to DC would be I-70 to St. Louis, then cut across I-64 to Charlottesville, VA, then pick up I-81N to Strasburg, VA, then I-66 into DC. That way you avoid the shitty PA turnpike. " I traveled extensively before retiring and I would agree with this route. Check the road conditions before leaving Colorado though. I intend to live forever -- so far, so good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swisschris62 0 #33 November 24, 2013 Up in the Adirondacks. I took the picture because the scene looked so quiet and clean and peaceful. When I started that morning the roads weren't quite so nice. Some of the perks of having an office in a truck. Hours and hours of beauty anytime of year, regardless of the weather... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 38 #34 November 25, 2013 Nice pics!lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 38 #35 November 25, 2013 I only have 13 trips across the US, so I'm only semi-qualified to answer this. I have three winter crossings, and I40 is probably your best bet (depending on impending weather). The last time I did it, I did have to time my driving between storms, and keep in mind, Truckers will do what you shouldn't.lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,340 #36 November 25, 2013 oldwomanc6I only have 13 trips across the US, so I'm only semi-qualified to answer this. I have three winter crossings, and I40 is probably your best bet (depending on impending weather). The last time I did it, I did have to time my driving between storms, and keep in mind, Truckers will do what you shouldn't. Not necessarily. We don't get paid to sit, so we often will push through bad weather. But we are (supposed to be) professionals, with skill and experience. And in a semi with a heavy load, I will "stick to the road" better than a car,and will sometimes push through. With a light load I am more susceptible to crosswinds and more likely to shut it down. And if you see all the trucks staying in the right lane, going 35-40, think about it. We get paid by the mile. Going slower cuts our pay. We don't do it unless we have to. I will shut down if I have to. My company doesn't have a problem with it. They'd rather call the customer saying the weather has caused a delay than having to tell them that their load is now scattered all over the side of the interstate. I had to shut down in Kansas City a couple years ago. It ended up being a foot or so of snow by the end of the storm. 70 east had closed (part of it had closed fairly early due to a crash which was one reason I parked it), but opened the next morning. The road was decently plowed, but the ditches were littered with semi trucks that had foolishly tried to push through. Between KC and St Louis, there were over 30. Not counting the cars. Just big trucks. And 40 would be more likely to have good conditions, but is awfully far out of route. As long as there isn't a storm actually happening, 70 will be in good shape. It's plowed and salted clean within a day or two of anything but the worst storms (and ice storms are worse to clean up than snow storms). Note SwissChris' 1st pic. There's a lot of snow on the ground, but the road is fine."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swisschris62 0 #37 November 25, 2013 Thanks... It's easy when your handed this sort of material Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 38 #38 November 25, 2013 Another nice one! lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swisschris62 0 #39 November 25, 2013 My personal cut off is 30 mph. If I don't feel confident and safe doing at least 30 mph I shut it down. Any company that would insist you continue when you don't feel good about the road conditions would be a company you need to get away from. When driving conditions are bad a big truck does have advantages over 4 wheelers. That being said, if not operated properly it can also get crazy real fast. Theres definately a right and wrong way to go about it. The snowy picture I posted with clear roads was a storm that started about 10 that night. When I started that day ( early in the am ) it was snowing fairly hard and the roads were completely covered. This wasnt long after the sun had come up and already nice and clean! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LuckyMcSwervy 0 #40 November 25, 2013 Do you have bathrooms in your trucks?Always be kinder than you feel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 212 #41 November 25, 2013 LuckyMcSwervy Do you have bathrooms in your trucks? Catheter . . . with the spill valve just behind the left rear tire . . . left openI'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,340 #42 November 25, 2013 LuckyMcSwervyDo you have bathrooms in your trucks? No."There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy "~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LuckyMcSwervy 0 #43 November 25, 2013 turtlespeed ***Do you have bathrooms in your trucks? Catheter . . . with the spill valve just behind the left rear tire . . . left openAlways be kinder than you feel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LuckyMcSwervy 0 #44 November 25, 2013 wolfriverjoe***Do you have bathrooms in your trucks? No. I'll tell you why I asked. The couple in the stateroom next to be on a cruise are truck drivers. The woman said when she has to "piss" she "whips out the coffee can and the ziploc bag" and just "pisses and zips". She said she put the bag into the coffee can, "lowers the air ride seat" and will pee into the ziploc bag sturdied by being in the coffee can. She never mentioned wiping. I thought for sure there would be at least a little camper kind of toilet in the big cab part of the trucks.Always be kinder than you feel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #45 November 25, 2013 Highway crews have a lot of complaints about jugs of pee being thrown out along the highway. I've even seen signs at rest stops saying not to do that kind of stuff. Never even knew people did that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LuckyMcSwervy 0 #46 November 25, 2013 JohnMitchell Highway crews have a lot of complaints about jugs of pee being thrown out along the highway. I've even seen signs at rest stops saying not to do that kind of stuff. Never even knew people did that. No kidding. Always be kinder than you feel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swisschris62 0 #47 November 25, 2013 This is my good friendsBobby and Janes. This is a 110" sleeper. Another very popular size sleeper for us long haulers is the 135" sleeper. They will make them 200" if that's what your wish is. Inside they have all the comforts of home and have everything an rv would have. When they go trucking they stay out 3 - 4 months at a time. They are in their 60's, married, run as a team, and been trucking for 40 years. They are both retired military. I always tease them by calling them "hobby truckers". You see they mostly haul all our military's secret shit. They will get to California with a load and then relax in the warm desert until the next secret load needs to be shipped. Sometimes they sit a day or two, sometimes a week or two. When they run, they make real good money...real good by anyone's standard. We both lease to the same company ( arguably one of the best in this industry ). We have approx 2000 owner ops, about 200 of which are these guys. We are not the only company that hauls this stuff but we are one of the few. Personally I don't haul this secret stuff but I do haul a good amount of military stuff. So anyways, these guys sit out there in the desert, shining their trucks, with lounge chairs and bar b ques all set up living the life. They mostly run the south in winter, where the drivings easy and the sun is shining so their trucks never really see dirt. I must admit, I too have mostly opted for the southern route thing in winter too as I've aged and been afforded the ability to be more particular. When my wife retires in 3 more years, I too will be stretching my frame and going with a 135" sleeper and we will then truck together although she has no desire to ever drive. The only reason I haven't done it already is because you give up weight and maneuverability and currently I still want to be able to load heavy when I have to and I still currently take loads to places they may have a harder time with. In this picture I posted, our company was given the oppurtunity to haul the World Trade Center steel.we were a convoy of about 60 trucks surrounded by police escorts and ran up 95 to JFK in ny where it was stored in a hanger. We all donated our trucks to the cause. Here's a pic of us lined up at the George Washington bridge waiting for them to close the bridge for us. It was all very cool! So I never meant to drift like this but...I dug up a pic of a big sleeper so you could see and there was a story behind it all. Sorry...but if you like trucking stories...then I got stories If you want to see interior pics of these things you can go to the guys that build them web sit. http://www.legacysleepers.com So now that we kinda know each other, your wondering how it is I go to the bathroom. I probably would have waited till we got to know each other better before asking if the roles were reversed but alas.... Going #1...I been doing this so damn long I know every clean out house and bathroom in the country. I time accordingly. My body is trained to only feel the need to go if the facilities are clean.its actually amazing how that works. I can actually feel the need to go and if I walk into a place and it's nasty...like magic, I don't have to go anymore. Going #2...yes I have a pee bottle. No I don't throw them out my windows along side the interstate. Scum bag truckers and these truckers they bring in from the Ukraine do shit like that. Truck stops are totally disgusting from guys leaving these bottles strewn about. When I see these dirt balls littering or leaving piss bottles behind I take their picture and send it to the company proudly displaying their logo on the truck. I hope I've gotten a lot of these assholes fired! These guys are ruining it for everyone out here and make it hard for everyone to find places to park because of what they do. So back to my pee bottle...I dispose of it properly and that doesn't mean a full bottle of pee in a dumpster. I hope this indirect answer on me going 1 and 2 has answered all your questions Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swisschris62 0 #48 November 25, 2013 Remember, I told you I love it out here. I mean I really love it and other than putting a little extra pollution into the air because my engines been tweaked ( ) and because I'll run a little harder then the average bear I ttry and tread lightly on our beautiful planet. I rarely sleep at truck stops because they are gross. Piss bottles everwhere...it sucks. I have my little hideaways where I sleep and been using them for years. I wake up in the morning and want to smell fresh air. I like the peace of being away from all the racket a truck stop brings. I wake, I make my own breakfast and play stick with my dog. Between playing with my dog, eating, thoroughly going over my truck and having coffe it's usually about an hour and half. Waking up in a truck stop just isn't as enjoyable. Here's my co pilot Hannah watching me do my inspection. #2... Watching the mirrors like a champ. Can't get close to the truck without her knowing it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LuckyMcSwervy 0 #49 November 26, 2013 I didn't picture those trucks looking as nice inside as the RVs. Nice! And going it as a couple sounds ideal! Lucky them and you when your wife retires!! As far as the PP sitch... LOL... thanks for all of that information. I just know I gotta pit stop every hour. I couldn't imagine how people who do it professionally and with a schedule to keep makes it work. You'd think they would've invented a truck seat that can double as a toilet. They probably have not that I think of it but I really don't want to Google that one!! Safe travels. The pics were really, really nice. And you have my favorite bred of dog. German Sheppards are awesome! She's beautiful!!Always be kinder than you feel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,048 #50 November 26, 2013 Hi swiss, Quote This is a 110" sleeper. Back in the mid-60's, while in college, I worked part-time in the test lab at Freightliner. It was at that time that they designed and built their very first double sleeper cab. We thought that thing was so big it might not get on down the road. That was a fun job and very interesting, watching trucks get built every day. JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
